DNA Study Solves Mystery Of Mysterious Mixed-Race People
ALEC Loses Another Big Company
Thousands of demonstrators descended on Jena, La., Thursday from across the country for what Al Sharpton called the beginning of the 21st century's civil rights movement.
The demonstration prompted change and awareness, that's for sure. In the wake of it:
- A countless number of those who could not make it to the rally from across the country wore black in solidarity with the Jena demonstrators.
- President Bush made his first remarks regarding the case. "The events in Louisiana have saddened me." he said. "And I understand the emotions. The Justice Department and the FBI are monitoring the situation down there. And all of us in America want there to be, you know, fairness when it comes to justice."
- The story is being played around the world, from the BBC in England to Al Jazeera.
The six black teenagers who have become known as the Jena Six were first charged with attempted murder in the beating of a white classmate after nooses were hung from a tree at school. Despite their age, all but one young man was also charged as an adult.
Marchers on Thursday carried signs that said "Praise Mychal Bell," the only teen of the Jena Six who remains jailed.
After being convicted by an all-white jury, Bell was the last to have his conviction of aggravated assault overturned by a Louisiana appeals court last week. They ruled that he shouldn't have been tried as an adult. He will now be tried as a juvenile and the others still await their court dates.
Sharpton said before the rally, "Don't act like we coming to start trouble. We're coming to stop trouble."
Reports so far say that the demonstration, which shut down the school and all the businesses in the town of 3,000, was big and peaceful. No trouble.
Marchers chanted "Free the Jena Six" and "No Justice, No Peace," pointing to the case as yet another example of Southern legal injustice. All of the marchers on Thursday want ALL charges against all six dropped completely.
The Jena Six teens found themselves in an unimaginable situation last year when nooses where hung from a tree on their high school campus, a powerful sign of lynching and racism. Fights where followed by arrests, but the white teens who hung the nooses were not charged with a crime.
Comments: (246)
Add a comment
By: JAY on 9/21/2007 2:23AM
The fact that Al is leading this charge does great justice to public opinion about him. I often wonder why on a few of our leaders arrange, organize and move on injustices such as this one. Where is the Honorable Louis and the Nation. Lastly, Mr. Sharpton keep doing what you do and do it well. Dont allow black american to sleep on blatent racism and inequality. You lead this movement and we will all follow.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Hotep2You on 9/21/2007 5:38AM
mr. watts, with all do respect:
we can hold others accountable for their ill mistreatment of people within our community because it is the correct thing to do!
as a people do we have work to do on our communities? absolutely!!!
as a people should we adopt the following:
1) respect (of self, community, the law - God's & man's)
2) accountability (for one's actions, thoughts, and behaviors)
3) love (of self, of community, of God)
ABSOLUTELY!!!!
however expecting, requiring, desiring the above from our people collectively - does not, and should not absolve others of their unfair treatment of us...nor should we allow their careless disregard, and or their blatent direspect of us to persist.
further - NOT EVERYONE has subcome to the hip hop genre/ gansta rap mentality as you've described and suggested in your post. many of us are indeed law abiding blk folk who have a solid understanding of the blk (wo)man's existance in the u.s. before, during and following the enslavement of our people. many of us have worked hard in pursuit of our educational, and professional goals. more of us than not - abide by the laws of this great land. more of us than not - understand and appreciate the importance of self love, self respect, and the sharing of both with our fellow (wo)men.
so with the aforemention being said, i take issue with blacks who'll use blanket negative generalizations in their description/ discussion of blk folks just as much as i do when non blacks practice the very same thing.
final thoughts:
the reaction of the young men (jena 6) to the nooses hanging from that tree, is subjective! you cannot speak to their very own personal points of reference, and the trigger in emotions seeing those nooses inspired in each of them. likewise is it fair to speak to the very real and personal reactions, and emotions of others upon hearing the story.
i submit that just as the N word has the ability to enrage you...making you angry to a point of wanting to confront any and everyone that you hear using it - the visual imagery and symbolism of THOSE nooses hanging from THAT tree in THAT part of the country - clearly acted as a powerful catalyst for one, two, maybe all 6-of those young men.
should they have attempted to exercise more self restraint & control? should they have merely walked away, and reported the incident to school authorities? the answer is- sure to both!
bottom line, they are children/ preteens/ young men who are still growing & evolving(mentally, emotionally, and physically) self control if honed, and encouraged will eventually come. additionally is it not possible that past experiences have taught/shown them that voicing a complaint against their white counterparts - reporting racism to the powers-that-be, had proven to be fruitless in the past? keeping in mind THEIR personal points of references - not yours, and not mine, THEIRS?!?!? is this not a very real possibility?
navigating our way through life admist subliminal references to what america really thinks of my people is not always easy. however as an adult who received guidance and wise counsel during my matriculation in to womanhood i am far better equiped (as are you) to deal with "racial issues," as we are confronted with them. a child 15-16-17...not so much!
should their violent response to those racist teens be addressed - should they be held accountable, certainly! but does any of them really deserve to spend 20+ years in jail for their actions?
i think not!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Margaret Baker on 9/21/2007 6:57AM
PEOPLE STOP BELIEVING IN THE PROPAGANDA IN TV THAT SUPPORTS WHITE CORPORATE AMERICA AND READ!!
PUBLIC OFFICIALS INCLUDING THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE SCHOOL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY VIOLATED THE LAW AND LEFT YOUNG CHILDREN NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO SETTLE THEIR DISPUTES THE BEST WAY THEY COULD...
HERE'S THE BREAKDOWN OF THE STORY BEHIND JENA SIX WHICH HAS BEEN REPORTED IN SEVERAL "WRITTEN INDEPENDENT NEWS JOURNALS" AND NOT ON TV:
Consider these facts that were reported from Friends of Justice, Truthout.org and NPR amoung others that do not line their pockets based on advertising dollars and therefore are not told by their bosses to follow the script or be fired...
Summary of Facts:
During an assembly, a black student asks if anyone could sit under the tree on school property that whites have claimed as their own.
The school officials told him that anyone can sit under the tree -- as he should since it is public property that their parents pay for.
A few of the black students sit under the tree
The next day 3 loose nooses were hanging from the branches of the tree. This is a crime called harrasment - a non-verbal threat according to the Louisiana state law. (look it up)
The black kids report this to the principal
The principal tries to expell the white kids for threatening these kids as it is against the law
The superintendent overrules and gives the white kids in-school suspension - slap on the wrist for whites - slap in the face for blacks -- why? -- whites actions dismissed as pulling a prank
Now a group of blacks sit under the tree in protest - standing up for their rights - will not be intimidated by the hanging nooses
Tension rises which leads to school being torched -- part of the main building was burned. -- blacks accused whites -- whites accuse blacks -- unsolved case today
The District Attorney along with Police Officers address the students in an assembly. He threatens and intimidates the black students by saying "If you don't stop this mess, with the stroke of a pen I have the power to change your lives forever" (A direct violation of the law and his duties as a public official to serve in the best interest of the public -- HE SHOULD BE PROSECUTED - not the kids.)
A few black football players invited to a party by whites were jumped by a gang of white kids when they entered the doors -- one of the black kids was beaten, kicked, and assaulted with a glass bottle (Wouldn't you say glass is a deadly weapon?)
Some black kids were walking outside of a store when one of the white guys that attacked them came face to face with them and went back to his truck -- got a shot gun and aimed it at the black boys threatening their lives (Is this a violation of the law -- young black men walking peacefully)
The black boys wrestled the guy, took the gun and walked away without retaliation -- The police arrested the black boys for battery and stolen property--their lives were threatened and they get arrested??? For what-- Defending themselves???
A football player is approached in the hallway at school, teased and taunted about getting jumped by a gang of whites at the party. Someone from behind the white boy threw a punch and a fight broke out. A teacher/coach witnessed the incident and said that Mycal Bell (the black teen that is now in jail for over 10 months now) was NOT the aggressor in this fight. And, some students told police that someone else with a green shirt threw the punch.
The District Attorney carries out his threats made in the assembly and ORIGINALLY charges 6 black boys as ADULTS with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon and the weapon is a TENNIS SHOE. For this they face a possible 100 years in prison. Is this justice? (compare rubber to glass -- which one is more deadly?)
The District Attorney is in direct violation of the law. He addressed a school assembly with threats and intimidation and has gone on record stating that he said it. How bold is this this man? He's pounding his chest here! Shall we sit by and let this go on? THE WHITE KIDS GET IN SCHOOL SUSPENSION AS THE ONLY PUNISHMENT IN THIS CASE TO CONTINUE THEIR LIVES AND EDUCATION BUT OUR BLACK KIDS GO TO PRISON FOR A NOW POSSIBLE 22 YEARS??? ARE YOU WILLING TO ACCEPT THIS? IS ANYONE WILLING TO ACCEPT THIS??? IF SO, YOU ARE A DISGRACE!!!!!!!!!!
TV news coverage on Sept 20, 2007 the day of the protest reports blacks ganging up on 1 white boy and approximately 60,000 protestors march on Jena. THAT IS THE STORY REPORTED. FCC SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO ALLOW THIS. Can you see how skewed the media is and why we must take our heads out of the sand? This story enrages both sides if you know the truth and/or are too blind to seek the truth. The images that the media presented ON SEPT 20, 2007 will give false impressions and outrage some that think that blacks are requesting the freedom for their own kind who appear to be unjust...the system is unjust because the people who run it are corrupt, think they are superior and above the law. If you are a child of God I urge you to get involved...education is key here...simply marching on Jena creates an image -- a photo op is what mainstream media says...they belittle every effort here. We must do what we can to educate out young. We can start by showing them that the District Attorney and all public officals unjustly involved should themselves be PROSECUTED AND PLACED IN JAIL AND SERVE THE TIME THAT THEY HAVE PROPOSED FOR THESE YOUNG CHILDREN THAT ARE LEARNING AND GROWING AND NEED DIRECTION. THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS CLEARLY HAVE NOT SET AN EXAMPLE OR GIVEN THEM ANY CHOICE BUT TO SLUG IT OUT ON THE SCHOOL GROUNDS!!!!!
LETS GET RID OF THESE EVIL DOERS -- AND SET A PRECEDENCE OURSELVES!!!!
Did you know that when the truth rises up "Jena 6" will be a landmark case and if justice is not served there is potential for the public officials and law makers to set a precedence in law to erode our rights and especially our future generations rights in this land? This is an elaborate scheme and if we don't stand up our ancestors will have fought in vain!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Cecil Jones on 9/21/2007 7:32AM
Let's breakdown the roots of the "Jena 6"? Somebody hung some nooses after some blacks sat under a special tree. A white student got beat nearly to death and a possibly racist judge threw the book at the kids who clearly beat up the victim in a 1 on 6 mob fight. Al Sharpton decided to play the race card highlighting the noose and the obvious heavy-handed reaction by the judge. How do you fix this mess? Didn't the town cut down the tree and didn't the attention force a review of the judge's decision? Stirring up all the racial emotion serves Sharpton's best interest not Americas. Yes, we are still racially biased, but it works both ways. Seperate but equal is unconstitutional. Seperate and unequal is causing this mess. How do we come together? How do we heal the wounds of slavery represented by the noose? How do we get past Sharpton? He has a monopoly giving him the exclusive use of the N-word, the B-word, and the H-word. That's no revolution, that's just stupid! The pain will never go away if Sharpton keeps picking the scab! He determines who is worthy and unworthy of justice. The "Jena 6" should have thought about the impact before it turned violent. We can't reward the violence or the ignorance in this case.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Lee on 9/21/2007 8:38AM
Today, the march on Jena Louisiana to protest the six black students being excessively charged for the assault and or fight with a white student, over an incident involving three nooses being hung from a tree that previously only white students sat under, gets underway.
Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton are the headliners of the event that is expected to draw as many as 60 thousand protesters, activist, religious groups and individuals to this town with a reported population of roughly 3 thousand.
This event is expected to draw international attention due to its racially charged storyline so we thought we would take the side story that is laying on the periphery. Apparently Jesse Jackson has publicly admonished Barack Obama for not taking part in the occasion and lending his support stating Mr. Obama is acting white.
In the African American community, that charge is tantamount to calling him an Oreo (Black on the outside and White on the inside). This side story is worth giving some attention since many will wonder if Mr. Obama is running to be the first Black president or the first president who just happens to be Black. These two possibilities are hardly the same thing.
We dare say, if Rev. Jackson had his way Mr. Obama would be the latter, the first Black president, meaning his primary focus would and should be the interest of African Americans and people of color. But fortunately, Mr. Obama did not fall for that shortsighted, limited thinking and narrow view of his responsibility to the nation. Mr. Obama clearly recognizes the necessity of maintaining a broader perspective and the national and global need for his attentions.
Rev. Jackson as well as Rev. Sharpton is extremely capable of taking the lead on issues of this nature as they have proven themselves to be on countless occasions. Their work is grassroots, ground level and at times, down and dirty no doubt, but it is work they chose to do. Without question, they have paid their dues and as a result they have reaped their rewards. Both have had their opportunities to run for the presidency and both failed in their efforts.
Perhaps Mr. Obama has observed the limitations of being clever slick and witty like the Reverends Jackson and Sharpton are known to be and decided to take the smart and wise route to reaching his goals. It is the wise man that knows which battles to engage personally and which battles should be delegated to others for the appropriate response.
Beside the aforementioned, Mr. Obama is of mixed race and being forced to acknowledge one aspect of his history and not the other is an insult to the memory of the people that made him the man he is. Rev Jackson and Rev. Sharpton have given a tepid endorsement at best of Mr. Obamas efforts and accomplishments thus far and we wonder how much of that is simply sour grapes.
While Black America respects and vividly remember the importance of the civil rights era and what it means to their very core, many of the thinkers within the ranks have moved on to the next level in the process.
In our opinion, Mr. Obama has bigger fish to fry as he prepares himself for finding ways to end the Iraq war, get the U. S. economy back on its feet, deliver heath care to forty million Americans getting by without it, focusing on millions of Americans losing their homes, heading off an impending recession, reestablishing Americas standing on the world stage, etc. You know, the things the next American president will be expected to do.
When you really get down to it, Jackson and Sharpton could be more helpful to Mr. Obama and black America by doing what they do best and leave the hardcore, big picture thinking to the man that does that best
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Ipress on 9/21/2007 9:26AM
Harmless as a noose? HARMLESS AS A NOOSE? I can't even begin to believe that a so called black man would even form his mouth to say those words. I am just in awe at the level of ignorance of that statement.
It is bad enough that some people would want to keep us down, but the fact that Mr Watts, has that 'keep quiet and look away, and maybe it won't happen again' mentality makes me sick to my stomach.
I have taught my three girls to be strong, independent young ladies. I have taught them to be aware of their surroudings and to be careful of the company they keep and the friends they choose. I have taught them to be polite and respectful of others. I have taught them not to start fights, but if they felt they were in danger or if they felt threatened, then by all means protect themselves. My middle daughter, a few years back while living in SouthWest Texaso, was called the 'B' word one day, she was hurt she came home crying, and we went and spoke to the prinicple the next morning. A few days later, while she was on the playground, that same child cornered her and called her the 'B' word again, and said that she had a big mouth, and called her the 'N' word. She took the bat she had in her hand and she hit him a few times with it. Within the hour I was called to the school, and she was asked to apologize to the little boy in WOULD NOT apologize for defending herself.
I told the principal, that it was the little boy who owed my daughter the apology for making her feel like she had to defend herself against him.
I also told the parents of that boy, that today he called a young black girl the B word and the N word and the only thing that happened was that he was hit with a bat, later on in life, if they didn't stop him right now, he was going to say the wrong thing to the wrong person, and a bat was going to be the least of their worries.
The principal agreed and asked the parents to enroll their child in another school, and then she apologized to me and to my child.
Mr. Watts, I think you would have blamed me for my child's behavior.... and that saddens me. I weep for you, if you think that with everything a noose represents...hatred, ignorance, stupidity, arrogance, discontent...it is still harmless? Then what exactly are you teaching your children? I weep for them.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: James on 9/21/2007 10:21AM
Anyone concerned about the tone this march is taking on?
From above article:
"Marchers on Thursday carried signs that said 'Praise Mychal Bell,' the only teen of the Jena Six who remains jailed."
A picture of this very sign: http://english.aljazeera.net/mritems/images/2007/9/20/1_229133_1_5.jpg
What has Mychal Bell done that deserves praise? Beat a man unconscious? Taking vengence? (if the man deserved it, as some here suggest) Is that praiseworthy? Are these the heroes of this movement?
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Roz on 9/21/2007 10:46AM
After reading many comments on this situation in Jena, I feel that a lot of this mess could have been prevented. I do not understand how a school can have a "white tree" on its property in the first place. Knowing that this tree represents racism and segregation, why was it still there? Why was the DA called to school instead of offering diversity/sensitivity workshops after the nooses? Why were the 6 students not just suspended/expelled after the incident? According to school policy, fighting is punishable by suspension or expulsion.
I do not condone fighting, but I can see how it happened. Instead of dealing with the blatant racism, the adults in Jena decided to ignore it. I feel that you had one group getting away with being ignorant and racist and then another group got fed up and dedcided to do something about it. NO ONE else came to their aid, so they took matters into their own hands. I wonder how many times the principal or other school officials were notified of the incidents that were occurring. Some people express their disdain for Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, but at least these young men now have someone standing up for them, intervening on their behalf! It is just truly disheartening that it was not someone in Jena.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Tamesha on 9/21/2007 12:06PM
No one is condoning what the "JENA SIX" boys did. We are simply asking the question."Why the double standards?" Why weren't the white children involved in any of the incidents, indicted? Why would the district attorney threaten the black peaceful demonstrators? For the people that feel that this is a non-issue, I would ask all of you to study the case more and know the facts. Furthermore, what will we as a people do when Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson die. Who will stand up and bring attention to our issues. Please be more informes and more active in your own community and things of this nature can be avoided.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Nea on 9/21/2007 6:15PM
It is so amazing that until it hits home, or close to home, that we all have opinions. The anger I feel toward this Douglas man who has taken up all of the comments on this blog, with us trying to give him a clue is useless. People are entitled to their own opinion and he has his. Let's not give him any more space today. Just thank God he doesn't have boys (that is an assumption) because a black man, with a black son would not be saying the things he has. Although I will reserve judging because it is not my place. I have a host of nephews who are honor roll, law-abiding, sport playing young black men, who sometimes let their pants sag when one of the adults is not around to check them. So if one of them got in this kind of trouble is he saying based on the stero-type it is ok for injustices to go unchecked... He has thoroughly succeeded in confusing me, and has left me with the impression that somewhere someone of our same race has hurt him deeply and he is now holding that grudge against all blacks. Some of what he saids is true. Learned behavior is what our children learn at home. But, I will always be my child's advocate come what may... and if nobody had stood up for this set of children, there would have been another set. I wish they would see the big picture. It is my hope that the end result will be that we get out and vote some of these people out of office who don't care about our issues. And that we stay united in the things that matter to us, and yes according to Mr. Douglas learn to love ourselves. That is the only sensable thing he did say...
Reply to this Comment | Report This